Canadian Freeskier Sarah Burke in Coma after Fall

Women's freeski pioneer Sarah Burke is in a coma after a fall yesterday while training at the Park City halfpipe. Our thoughts are with the decorated Canadian skier and Dew Tour athlete as this official update was just released:

On Tuesday, Jan. 10, Canadian freestyle skier Sarah Burke was transported by AirMed helicopter to University of Utah Hospital from Park City Mountain Resort after sustaining serious injuries during training. She is currently listed in critical condition in the hospital's Neuro Critical Care Unit.

"Sarah sustained serious injuries and remains intubated and sedated in critical condition," according to Safdar Ansari, M.D., a neurointensivist with University of Utah Health Care.

Sarah's husband Rory Bushfield and her family are by her bedside and wish to express their sincere thanks to everyone, all over the world, for their heartfelt thoughts, prayers, and well wishes. "Sarah is a very strong young woman and she will most certainly fight to recover," said Rory.

Sarah's family has asked that fans and media respect their privacy during this difficult time. Sarah's friends and fans are encouraged to post their well wishes on Sarah's Facebook page.

Burke on center of the podium after winning a past Dew Tour event

Burke was slated to compete in next week's Pantech Open. She is a prominent figure in the world of winter sports, having been the first woman to stomp 720s, 900s, and 1080s in the halfpipe. She was a key player in lobbying inclusion of women's freeski in the Olympics as well working with the X Games to include female freeski events. She frequently donates contest winnings to pro-female freeskiing organizations. Born in the small Canadian town of Midland, Ontario, Burke not only competes but films for some of the top freeski productions.